My dear friend, I have to confess,
being toothless is a great pain,
which last night I had to experience
at doctor Don Vito’s residence.

Present too the lawyer Don Luigi,
the mayor and Don Saro the engineer,
and even, if I am not mistaken,
their respective, noble women.

At a certain point during the night,
the maid came around with the tray,
not to be rude a hard cookie I took,
that in my mouth felt like a rock.

I put it then in a saliva bath,
forgive my jargon, for half an hour,
to crumble it I will need a hammer,
because it was harder than a stone.

I couldn’t talk, damned my luck,
so of the howl I made the sound,
because of that hardest cookie,
that was wedged in my mouth.

But when the gracious host,
addressed me with some questions,
I thought to be of me rude,
like a blockhead to look.

I thought within myself: I live or die,
this hard cookie I’ll swallow whole,
so little by little started to push,
and down it went the big son of...mole.

THE SORCERER

Crowded was already the fish auction,
you could see in tempest was the sea,
a marine spout was hanging down,
taking water and growing mean.

Saro, the fisherman, on his boat,
amongst the waves, in big turmoil,
desperately rowing, poor lad,
was praying at great voice our Lord.

Was mumbling the people on the bank,
with great fervor a litany of prayers,
when Rosalie appears with dare,
the most powerful of the sorcerers.

She raises up her arms in a cross,
draws a circle and around it goes,
three walnuts breaks with a bear foot,
and says of magic a few words.

Behold, calms down the sea,
disappears, cut off, the marine spout;
with great happiness the people shouts,
that Saro and the boat are now on dry land.

CAMIGLIATELLO

Silvery moon, that roaming go
silently, through the empty sky,
when over mount Scuro you come,
find Camigliatello almost hidden

amongst chestnut trees and giant pines;
tell her that my greetings I send,
tell her that I am still in love,
and will never be able to forget.

Tell her that tied up is the remembrance
to my past youth free of problems,
when enchanted seemed to be the world
and life studded with joy and flowers.

Tell her that I have become gray,
that it is only a memory my youth,
and if she could see me as I am today,
she could recognize me no more.

Tell her that I loved her constantly,
I loved her woods and her springs,
the smells of resins, and every place,
I still love the persistent thought.

Translation by The Sicilian

The Patience's TemptationsThis poem was dictated to me by my mother, while she
was sick in bed. She learned it from my grandmother
80 yaers before. She was 92.

Oh Omnipower, divine Omnipotence,
I ask your help so I can endure
The troubles of this world with patience;
To give me strength so I can serve and love,
I look for and ask your assistance.
For any cross I want to bear
And I want to suffer to the most,
Before I offend you, Lord of host.

It came to pas that I was ill,
And Death came to my bedside and said:
-I am here to take you away.
There is no more life for you in this world!-
-Oh Death, give me first license
To receive the Holy Sacrament,
And then, happy, with you I come.
Omnipotent, eternal almighty God,

Come to me, for ever Holiest One,
From Heaven to earth for the love of me.
Groom of my soul, always desired,
You are my true friend, Almighty Father,
Your love for us is the most heartfelt.
Open, o my soul and my heart
Let the most Sacred hug your soul.
The priest present felt much love,

For those very important words
To her he gave Jesus Body Most Holy,
The Sacrament and his Divine Majesty.
Lucifer was dressed as a soldier,
Tempting people as he went in the streets
He heard that Patience was ill,
And flew fast to the abyss of hell:
Do you know that Patience is sick?

Just now the Highest went to her.
Who goes and brings here Patience
Will get the greatest recompense-
Lucifer called and Spitfire answered:
-I will go with my warm, embalming ashes,
And I'll bring her here with a song.-
He put on a very old cloak,
And looked like a very afflicted lady;

He went limping at Patience bedside,
He went asking for the usual alms
-All very poor were my keens,
I was left orphan in the street,
Forced I am to ask for alms,
To be able to live day by day.-
-Listen to me, daughter, what you do:
On Saturday you go to confession,

And on Sunday take Holy Communion.
Live and serve my dear little girl,
And for you will provide our Mother Mary.-
The poor lady that was so subdued,
Ran fast, disappeared from that place.
She running was screaming while saying:
-I don't want to be near her no more!
-Lucifer was waiting at hell's door

-Tell me what have you done, vile,
I didn't think you wouldn't bring her to me!-
-A thousand times in hell I rather stay,
Not to hear what that lady had to say!-
-Look here what I have, what you think!?-
He can't even stand the merest words.-
He grabs a badly pruned branch,
And breaks it over its horns.

-If instead of you I sent Vracadilizzu
He would have brought her to my feet.
He appeared at the top of a hellish path:
- I do much more if I take it at heart!
Listen to how I can straighten this boat:
I'll dress up as an old priest,
And I'll say: I am a confessor with title,
Even the Pope has a strong liking for me.-

He went strait to see Patience,
And pushed a chair with malevolence:
-I am a confessor with title,
I can absolve any kind of seen!-
-I, father, do not need anything:
A while ago a poor girl came by,
I told her to go to church and pray...
She got mad and disappeared fast,

If this is a seen I want to confess.-
-This is a seen most ugly!
Women are not supposed to teach!
Teaching, women, cannot do!
You are now excommunicated,
Salvation for you is very dubious!
-Oh my dear priest tell me now,
Where is Jesus the Sacrament?...-

He disappeared, like the wind he went.
Lucifer at hell's door was waiting:
-Tell me what have you done, vile?
I didn't think you wouldn't bring her to me!
-A thousand times in hell I want to stay,
Rather the hear the lady what she'll say!-
-Look here what I have, what a nerd!
He can't even hear the merest words.-

He grabs a branch badly pruned
And breaks it over its horns.
If I don't go myself we'll have no gain,
With soldiers who know how to plan.-
He took a group of seventeen hundreds,
All in the form of teenage girls,
All were marching bare footed,
Hungry, fasting on water and bread alone.

-Do you see, soul of my soul, what we do?
And all to make you strong and well again.
When you recover and are restored,
You will make a bare foot journey to Lucifer.-
-Oh Omnipotent God, your help I need:
Hell is all here, what am I to do?!
All these affectionate teenagers
Demons are to damn my soul!-

The Omnipotent God answered the cry:
(The girls and Lucifer, oh, how they'll sigh)
-Holy Michael take your sword
Go and destroy those unhappy serpents
Which are disturbing that blessed soul.
Beat them up to the most in every way,
Push them deeper in hell as my plan,
And her you bring to me, here in Heaven.-

Holy Michael worn the splendid suit
Of Captain and Supreme Judge,
And Heaven immediately he left,
With open wings and sword at hand.
Lucifer in mean time was uneasy:
-Let's get away from here, I fear
The Archangel Michael will appear.
What terrible damage if He comes here.-

While he says :-...if He comes here...-
Holy Michael right there appears;
As He showed himself he said:-Behold!-
He handles the sword on left and right,
Poorest that demon who was near by.
Afflicted Lucifer with all the virgins,
Oh, how they were crying the damned souls,
They complained: Not on the horns, not on the skin

-Enough Holy Michael, beat us no more,
We are really hurt and in great pains.-

-Come sister Patience with me,
Our Lady made a golden dress just for you.-

Unknown Author; Translation by The Sicilian

For an old friendMen and Cats

I remember as when I was little
Some March nights how the wind
Outside whistled as a fast bullet.

From the roof tiles it came a moan,
A continuous lament, like crying,
As of a little child, without rest.

The voice sounded as of destiny,
Inspiring both pity and anxiety,
But this insistent, continuous moan

Was made by the cats in love.
The cats in love which then I saw
Suffering in the most afflicted voices,

Staying very close to the chimneys,
With the moon watching from the sky,
And the stars in silence very curious.

I saw two of them, one as in agony,
With a voice without similitude,
Walking slowly on the roof edges,

The other one, steady, showed its claws,
Ready to flee, goes to the encounter…
They sniffed each other and started the bliss.

The moon dangling down and looking,
seems satisfied at our world,
Smiles at this dim-witted manners,

Because I want to say in truth really,
Either one cries on the roof tops,
Shedding a wail there all around,

Or with a sentimental guitar,
sends the melancholy to the moon,
believe me, the end is still the same.

The end is always the same, my dear,
That of all the other animals.
If man, who thinks it is a dirty deal,

Tries to hide it, he is in error,
Because this is how nature has us made,
As cats over the roof tops.

Now this little song doesn't care
About the gossip of some people,
I know that my life by the hour

Is fast setting as on the mountain
The sun's last ray, then I say:
Let us have too that bliss anyway.

This, established from long ago,
Extreme remedy for any pain,
I advice it to you, as your friend,

Since we were friends for so long,
Why don't we do this craziness
seeing it give such great joys?

Now this little song made for you,
A little gay, a little sentimental,
Which reason do you think it might have?

That of the cats over the roof tiles
The reason, my dear,
That have all the other animals.

CHRISTMAS NOVENA

When Caesar the Emperor
sent ruling proclamation
St. Joseph being outside heard
the message loud and clear.

In a timid confusion:
-How do I tell this to Mary?-
Almost in tear and very sad
He went home, the news scary.

So he started to think,
how to bring the news to Mary:
-If she knows all this,
With me will want to come.

Holy Mary with great courage:
said:- His will, let it be done.-
While the Baby God said within:
Wherever I’ll go to be with you.-

Riding an ass all the way,
they go far from Nazareth.
St. Joseph assisting her
with humble watchful eye.

-We to Bethlehem have to go,
it is the will of the Emperor,
once there we have to pay,
Our homage to the conqueror.

It was snowy and very cold,
while the rain was falling too,
bringing very much suffering
to the holy virgin Mary.

This is the way we have to travel
as shepherds and poor people.
They found some company
in the country’s little huts.

To some friends and relatives
on the doors they went to knock:
-Sorry, we have much company,
We really have no room for you.-

Some pretended:-Don’t understand.-
And those who did, excuses they had.
They knocked everywhere,
nobody willing to open a door.

Mary was ready to deliver,
really big, she was in pain;
apprehensive Joseph said:
Take a rest, let’s stop a while.

On that road, right in that path
they met a lonely pilgrim,
he told them:- Around here
I know a grotto very near.-

He was not a lonely pilgrim,
he was an angel sent by God
from His Divine Empire
And took them to the cave.

They all arrived at the grotto,
all together with the company,
and thanked God the Almighty,
the heavenly humble group.

Oh, so many celestial angels,
they assisted with great care,
being always near there,
Holy Mary, the Great Lady.

The great night is almost here
of the mysterious Divine birth,
clean your hearts, get ready
with love and humility.

All you shepherds wake up,
here is born the Messiah
in the cold of Bethlehem,
there He is, on Mary’s lap.

This is Christmas night,
when was born the world’s light,
was born in every home,
Let’s dance and sing a song.

And tonight is the last night
get ready our reward,
if you don’t have it ready,
take a loan we need the lard.